The purpose of this study is to evaluate the extended pharmacological and psychological treatment for chronic cigarette smokers.

Detailed Description

The work adapts interventions that have been successful in the general populations, and tailors them to chronic smokers, who may have numerous previous smoking treatment failures. If successful it will: (1) make available a treatment intervention that produces hight long term abstinence rates; (2) provide information on variables that predicts success and failure in this population of smokers; (3) examine the cost-effectiveness of more intensive, longer term treatments.

All participants receive standard 12 week treatment of NRT, bupropion and five group counseling sessions. At week 11, subjects are randomly assigned to one of five treatment groups (1) Bupropion/Low Contact; (2) Placebo/Low Contact; (3) Bupropion/Relapse Prevention; (4) Placebo/Relapse Prevention; (5) No Further Treatment. Data is collected at Week 0, and at weeks 12, 24, 52, 64, and 104.

Other Name: Zyban

Study Arm (s)

Active Comparator: Brief Treatment

Participants will start with a 21 mg nicotine patch, tapering to 14 mg patch and finally tapering to 7 mg patch. The nicotine patch will be administered on Week 3 of the program. Participants will meet with medical staff during Weeks 1, 2, 5, and 11. Five group counseling sessions must be attended by the participants. Assessments will be conducted on Weeks 12, 24, 36, 52, 64, and 104.

Intervention: Drug: Bupropion and NRT

Active Comparator: Extended Bupropion/Low Contact

Participants will receive the Brief Treatment followed by ongoing Bupropion treatment through Week 52. Participants will meet with medical staff once a month.

Intervention: Drug: Bupropion and NRT

Placebo Comparator: Extended Placebo/Low Contact

Participants will receive the Brief Treatment followed by placebo medication (sugar-pill) through Week 52 and meet with medical staff once a month.